Seize BP Sets Sights on Shamed Oil Company and Long Beach Aquarium

The national Seize BP Campaign–it has organized demonstrations against British Petroleum through Thursday in more than 50 cities across the country–is coming to Long Beach Wednesday to protest the shamed oil company and a new target: Aquarium of the Pacific.

“The Aquarium, which claims its mission is 'to instill a sense of
wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its
inhabitants, and ecosystems' took $1 million from oil criminals BP and
just unveiled the 'BP Sea Otter Habitat,'” say organizers. “This sickening
double-standard shows the utter bankruptcy of the Aquarium's
leadership and attempts to provide cover for BP's crimes.”

]

They continue, “Even afterthe oil disaster, the Aquarium's president, Jerry
Schubel, had no shame in promoting BP. He told the LA Times: 'I
hope they continue to support us.' Hacks like Schubel are as
important to BP as their billionaire executives. They act as PR agents
for the world's biggest polluter while claiming to be pro-environment.

“We can't let corporate shills like Schubel have the last word. There
is nothing 'respectful' about BP. The Aquarium should be ashamed and
remove BP's name immediately!”

Seize BP protests have or will be held in Atlanta; Tampa, FL; Irving,
TX; St. Joseph, Michigan; Front Royal and Virginia Beach, VA;
Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and San Diego, among
many more.

This past weekend, the gang marched on the Santa Monica pier, apparently
drawing applause and cheers as they chanted, “We won't pay for BP's
mess, take it from their bonus checks!” and “Seize BP now!”

“It is now clear that BP is incapable of solving the crisis, and oil will continue to gush until at least August. BP and the government are stalling, but the people of the Gulf coast and the environment can't wait,” say organizers. “The time to take action is now!”

Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the paper’s first calendar editor. He went on to be managing editor, executive editor and is now senior staff writer.